Eighteen months ago, I was following up on a lump that I had. I had it examined and was told it was fibrous tissue and to come back if it got bigger. I should have gone four months earlier than I did. I had been to the radiologist many times and was always told that everything was fine. NOT this time. I had a mass that was found by an ultrasound that needed to be checked immediately.

I will never forget the day the breast surgeon told me to expect a 90% chance it’s cancer, a 10% chance it’s not. The words “You have cancer” are life changing and unreal to hear. I went on to have a lumpectomy, then chemo and then a double mastectomy. I still don’t believe the words.

I am cancer free now; it was Stage 2 when it was found and I was told on Nov. 28, 2013 that they got it all. People have told me that I was so brave and their hero, but I simply did what needed to be done to live to raise my 12-year-old son. We can beat this and everyone should know that there is a future. Fight and stay strong and mostly have faith.

My name is Joshua Fraser, I am 24 years old and my mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She has four treatments of chemotherapy and we are all doing out best to get through this together! Her second treatment will be next week and her hair has started falling out, so I decided to make the head shaving a little easier.

At the age of 24 I thought my worst problems were getting over a bad break up and finding the right career, but once I thought I hit rock bottom, being diagnosed with breast cancer really put things into perspective.

Work, workouts and partying on weekends suddenly turned into doctors appointments, chemo treatments and sick days in bed! My most troubling questions went from “should I move out this year?” to “should I get my breast removed?”

I could have easily hid from the ugly truth, but instead, I decided to embrace every single inch of it. Putting my communications degree to good use, I started www.nalie.ca; my online journal where I share my entire breast cancer journey with the World Wide Web. People needed to see that getting breast cancer in your 20s is a possibility, and what better way to reach out to Generation Y than the Internet?

My blog and social media reached out to many young women with breast cancer, proving that we are not such a rare case after all. Not only did my blog help me, it was helping others. And it became my motivation to never give up!

Recording my journey allowed me to reflect on each day and to be thankful for life in general. In our 20s, we tend to think we’re invincible. Often, we’re caught up in our hectic lifestyle overloaded with school, work, partying, relationships and heartbreaks, all while over-thinking about what we want in life and whom we want to spend it with. But very seldom do we take the time to sit back and be grateful for the wonderful things we already have and give ourselves credit for the things we have accomplished.

This is what my journey has allowed me to do! Breast cancer never stopped me from living; it has allowed me to live! And I can only hope to inspire others to not have to wait for the worst, to live life at its best.

Debi Smith (pictured above) is a writer who blogs about her experiences with breast cancer here.

After two years of following a suspicious lump in my left breast, my GP and I were shocked to discover cancer deep in my right breast. Despite being 50, super fit and a healthy eater, cancer had caught up to me.

The amount found was only 10mm in size, something that would not have been discovered as early as a year prior. With all the donations and money coming in for cancer research, there are greater capabilities for diagnosis, treatment and care. I am so thankful to each and every cancer fundraiser out there. They are making progress thanks to you!

The miniature cancer was already in a lymph node trying to head out to the rest of my body. After two surgeries, chemo, radiation and then breast reconstruction I feel almost myself, but the truth is your old self will never return. Instead cancer left behind a slightly beat-up, wiser, tenacious woman that is determined to stop anyone else from going down this road. But I have made meaningful changes in my life, which gives me power over my lasting fear that cancer may come calling again.

I suggest you learn to stand up to cancer too. The earlier you start, the more hope you have. Right now would be a good time.

Erna (far left) pictured with her family and celebrity chef Corbin Tomaszeski at a pre-event for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation KitchenAid Cook for the Cure Culinary Showdown

Erna Vitullo is a breast cancer survivor who has also spoken about her journey at past Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation events

On June 23, 2010 I noticed a lump in my breast. I called St. Michael’s hospital that night and within no time I had my appointment. After going through all the tests, they confirmed I had Stage 1 Class C breast cancer that was already aggressive, but contained. This was during the summertime and the hospital told me that I might have to wait for surgery. I wanted it removed right away – luckily they had a cancellation and on Aug. 16, 2010 I had my surgery.

The real journey began when I started my chemo treatments. I completed them from Sept. 15 – Dec. 22, because I wanted to be finished before Christmas. I also received 21 days of radiation treatment at Princess Margaret Hospital. This time was challenging but I told myself to be strong and keep smiling no matter what I had to go through. I kept my normal routine: getting up early every morning with my two sons, going out driving and running errands. The hope and strength I received from family and friends helped me pull through this tough time.

I believe you should never give up hope. I know that is easier said than done, but you have to instil faith in yourself to feel it.

I am thankful for all the support I received from family and friends and from the doctors and nurses at St. Michael’s Hospital and the radiologist at Princess Margaret Hospital. I am also thankful for all the fundraising for the breast cancer cause. I have been a participant and fundraiser for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure in the past. I believe that if it not for the fundraising towards research, we would not be this advanced in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Most of all, I am thankful for being alive and I take each day as it comes.

Team dediKATEd at the 2013 CIBC Run for the Cure. Kate is seated in the first row, five from the left.

For the past two years I have been extremely proud to put together a team for my sister, Kate. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer 20 months ago. Kate has beaten the odds time and time again; she continues to surprise her doctors and nurses. If it weren’t for people like us, collecting donations and participating in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure, Kate may never have been given the opportunities and treatments she has been so fortunate to have.

Team dediKATEd was formed in 2012 to show Kate that she has a support network bigger than she even imagined. I asked friends and family to join, donate, and spread the word – and did they ever step up! I knew Kate’s story would generate a lot of support, but even I was humbled. We raised just under $10,000 for our first year and everyone was already looking forward to the walk in 2013! This year, we had people travel from all over Alberta and even Vancouver to walk with Kate. We are so proud to say we raised WELL over $10,000 this year! Kate herself raised $1,500 from her generous friends, coworkers and family. We even had our dog, Juno, sign up, who raised $445 for the team!

Team dediKATED at the 2012 CIBC Run for the Cure

Now, anyone who knows Kate knows that she has probably never owned anything pink in her life. It just didn’t seem right to deck ourselves out in pink when walking for Kate – we had to stand out! Team dediKATEd proudly wears BRIGHT orange and do we ever stand out. Plus, I know Kate feels proud as she can see each and every person donned in orange crossing the finish line, just for her.

We are already looking forward to the CIBC Run for the Cure in 2014 and we’ll be proudly wearing our bright orange for Kate!!

Well, this was a pretty unique weekend. Around this time, I always think about my friends who had breast and ovarian cancer. This year it was my turn. On Friday, Oct. 4 I had a partial mastectomy. From a routine mammogram to biopsy and then surgery – so much was happening so quickly that I didn’t have the chance to stop and think about what was actually happening to me.

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure was taking place the same weekend as my surgery. After my surgery, I posted onto Facebook that I had made it through and it was now time for the healing. One of my friends, Bev, was running for the cure and posted her sticker that she was running for me! That’s when I realized I had become a statistic. I’m now part of those on the other side; wishing I didn’t have cancer, hoping that my children won’t get cancer, wanting the cure more than ever before.

CBCF has been a great support. They provided books that I read during the weeks before the surgery. I was able to focus and make informed decisions. The CIBC Run for the Cure provides funding for research but also awareness to others of the great work and support that the Foundation is doing for everyone going through surgery and treatment.

I’m a different person now. I’ve crossed over to the other side and others are running for me, my future and my children’s future. This event will always be an annual marker of when the cancer was removed from me and I began my fight to be cancer free.

We tend to put off a lot in life, all the while time marches on and diligently away. We say we’re going to save things for a rainy day, for a special occasion or for when we have more time. At the age of 34 I have lost my mother, both of my grandmothers, my great aunt, my aunt, my uncle, a college and high school friend to varying forms of cancer. And I have more family and friends still fighting courageously with every ounce of strength they have.

Melanie and her run teammate Catherine (pictured right), who is celebrating a decade of being cancer-free this year

Based on the hereditary factors alone, somewhere along the way I had quietly accepted the fact that I too would face this indiscriminate disease in my future one day. That was until my neighbour asked me to join her for the 2013 Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. There was no hesitation, not even a thought as to whether this was a good time right now, because for me it was about time. Again and again, cancer has pushed me to the brink of absolute sadness, so now I’m taking a stand and pushing back, because in no reality should cancer be acceptable.

With each day that passes, bringing me closer to October 6, I’m filled with a renewed sense of hope. I will walk alongside a woman who has been more than just a friend, but like a mother to me, as she celebrates a decade of being cancer-free. I also walk with the hope that I will surpass my mother’s life of 49 years, to watch my son grow from a boy to a man. I walk because it’s about time, and what you do with it is up to you.